Access and inclusion

In the spring edition of Highnotes, we explore the effects of menopause on the singing voice and ways to address them, present the fourth report from the Big Survey 2022, and share insights from government participation data. Plus, Samir Savant, CEO of St George’s Bristol, discusses a groundbreaking project on music and mental health.

Many choirs use sheet music as a tool to learn their repertoire, but needing to read sheet music is a barrier to many people looking to join a choir. This resource will help choirs support new and potential members learning to read sheet music.

Written music is a symbolic language that provides a lot of information in a small space, but this can make it confusing if you haven’t come across it before. However, it is a skill that can be learnt, especially with the encouragement and structure of a music group. 

In this webinar recording, Making Music explores the steps music groups need to take to welcome and include new people in their bands, and the benefits of fostering a more inclusive environment.

CEO Barbara Eifler discusses the principles of access and inclusion, identifying barriers to people participating in your band and how you can take steps to removing those barriers. Our Inclusion Focus Programme Manager Elizabeth Palmer then talks about the insights and lessons learned from the INCLUDE programme, now one year into the project.

What your music group chooses to wear on stage is part of how you present yourself to the world - but care must be taken not to have it become a barrier that might lead to exclusion.

A group's performance wear - their 'uniform' - is the first thing an audience will see, which is why many groups choose to specify what their members wear while performing. This can be a good thing; uniform can bring a sense of belonging to people and help them feel part of a team. If you’re trying to present a unified sound, it can also be effective if you look uniform too.

Join Black Lives in Music for 'Classically Black', a full-day and evening event filled with insightful discussions, tributes to the legacy of Black classical musicians, and incredible performances of works by renowned Black British composers. This unique experience also offers a chance to meet the rising stars of classical music.

Event takes place on Saturday 19 October. Secure your tickets now!

In 2023, Paul Whittaker spoke to our members at two events about how groups could support instrumentalists and singers with hearing loss to take part in music-making. This resource covers the good practice suggested by Paul and members that attended those events, for any music-making group working to include deaf people and people with hearing loss in their regular activity.  

Sophie Anderson, Publicity Officer of Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) tells us how the orchestra has managed to successfully diversify its repertoire.

Background

Formed in 1945, the SPO is Sheffield’s oldest leisure-time orchestra, with over 80 members from across the Sheffield city region and beyond. We endeavour to present high-quality, well-attended concerts that engage regular concert-goers, and actively seek to increase exposure to classical music by working with the local community.